What’s unique about an anime convention game room is that they have imports you can’t find in U.S. arcades or stores. For example a lot of buzz was at the Shonen Jump Battle Stadium D.O.N table. You never know what type of games you can find. I played some weird games from Japan every time I go.

Also there’s game tournaments at conventions. There’s always a DDR, Halo, Super Smash and fighting game tournament.

Don’t like videogames? Well there’s tabletop gaming! Usually it’s in the same of a different room. In the tabletop gaming you can bring you Magic, Yugioh or Pokemon and challenge people. You can also play group games like Munchkin, Apples to Apples or Carcasonne.

Another gaming aspect of cons is LARPing. LARP stands for live action role play. Think Dungeon and Dragons or Final Fantasy except you act it out as your favorite anime character or made up character. Each con has a different set of rules and universe so if you want to try go the LARP HQ.

Gaming is a great thing to do if there’s nothing in particular to do. Unless it’s the main thing you want to do!

Next Part: Otaku PSA
Last Part: Joyous Events

Anime viewing rooms – This is a requirement of all cons. It’s always present and it’s a great way to check out stuff you never heard of.

Movie viewing rooms – I see Asian cinema rooms popping up more these days. Some really great or extreme stuff gets shown there.

Panels – There are some good panels. (Emphasis on some. Lol.) Most panels are fan run but some are industry run. The fan run panels can be about anything from cosplay to Inu-yasha to fansubbing. At the industry panels they announce titles that will be released. It’s good to be there so you can be the first to know.

Workshops – These are a bit different than panels. While panels mostly inform or show off something, you can participate in workshops. They usually teach you how to do things such as drawing manga, painting cells and nowadays I see many photoshop and flash workshops.

Masquerade – This is at every con. A bunch of people who cosplay put on skits to perform. Some are of good quality and hilarity or are very artistic. If you like acting and cosplaying then this is for you. Also remember to line up early. This is the most popular thing at the con!

Concert – A J-pop or J-rock bands come to perform at cons all the time. If you love Japanese music than this is for you definitely. Especially if it’s your favorite j-rockers. This is another thing you will be in a long line for.

Karaoke - I normally see this as a event itself since it’s usually on one evening. The thing that sets this different form everyday karaoke is that it must be in Japanese. Practice your pronunciations if your going to bust out Moonlight Densetsu or Ready Steady Go!

Game shows -These can range from anime trivia games to anime name that tune games. Maybe even something completely different. The anime match game is successful and done at cons in my part of the country. I seen an anime dating game go really well and had much lulz involved. I participated in an anime trivia game that was Jeopardy style. Not only particiapating is fun but being in the audience is fun too.

Special Events – Each con has a unique event that sets it apart from any normal con. Anime USA has the formal ball when you do a formal cosplay or wear formal clothes to attend. (e.g. Naruto in a orange tux and headband or Lum in a tiger print ball gown) JACON has a animusical they would put on. AUSA also has a pirate vs. ninjas dance off.

Look at the con schedule. See what’s in store that you are interested in. Now don’t tie yourself down to a schedule and follow it like law. Half the fun at a con is to meet new people and chill out with friends. Plus at some con events and panels can get moved around to different rooms or times. Keep your ears to the ground. You might see of hear of something crazy going on you will end up running to.

Next Part: Pixelated Happiness
Last Part: Stuffing the Hotel Room

I, Master Viga will teach you the art of shacking at a con without getting in deep shiz.

Before you do the room thing on your own ask a friend if they have one. You can pay a fraction of the cost and share a bed. (or chair…or floor…or closet in my memories.) Or you can be the ringleader and get some people together and reserve a room.

Here’s the most important thing that can make or break fun at the con. THE PEOPLE YOU ARE STAYING WITH! You are guaranteed to have a miserable time if you stay with drama starters or crappy whiny Shinji people. Seriously, if you had to stay with people who argued over dumb stuff or annoying people you clash with, it’s going to suck balls. Surround yourself with awesome people you are comfortable with and KNOW it will be a blast.

Cash! Cash, cash, cash! Make sure everyone payed up before they even enter the door to the room. If you haven’t collected by now then you are going to have to foot the bill for more than yourself. Do not let anyone pass go unless you have collected their share. Also keep a little bit extra in your pocket. More than once I’ve heard from a friend that someone in their room bailed on the last minute. The others in the room had to put cash together to cover the debt. Those types are usually the ones you DON’T want staying with you. Flakey flakes are flakey.

Now you got your awesome group of….EIGHT?! Hotels are expensive and young people like myself can’t afford it. Groups of friends team up to lower hotel costs. This practice is not allowed by the hotel, but they usually don’t know unless they catch you.

Here is a list of things to do so you wont get caught.

1. Keep the DO NOT DISTURB door hanger on at ALL times. This way housekeeping wont come in and see a million bags when it’s supposed to be four. If you don’t see one in the room go ask the help desk.
2. Tell everyone to bring their own towel and washcloths! If you go to the desk an ask for 5 more towels added to the many they already provide you, they will know what’s up.
3. Don’t cause a ruckus. Cause too much of a ruckus and they might shut you down. Some hotels don’t allow wild parties or noisy people.
4. When you check in or out go on your own if you are the leader. They’ll know if you have a posse behind you.

Also don’t think you are being slick. The hotel is aware of what your are doing anyway. Especially if this is a hotel which hosted cons before. As long as you don’t give them reason to or unless you are super obvious you can get away with it.

Last but not least, keep track of your stuff! There was many times when things got lost of taken because they didn’t keep track of their stuff. Choose a place in the room and declare it as your space to drop your stuff. Believe me. This will be way better than running around the room looking for your badge or wallet.

Next Part: Joyous Events
Last Part: The Moolah

As you can see we’re having a bit of a problem with blogger again. Some of the features we’ve recently installed are not workin properly and it’s messing up the front page and sidebars. We’ve had it. So we’ve decided that its time to get our own web host and domain… but we can’t do this without your help. We’re asking you to donate to the “fix ANIMEDIGEST” fund so we can finally move to our own host and domain. There’s no min or max… so donate as much as you want! Thank you! We appreciate all the help.

Unless you are broke. You are going to WANT to save cash.

As much as I hate the reality of this, cons need cash. You are going to need cash. Even if you are just paying for a badge you are going to want cash. An otaku also requires food and drink to survive. Plus when you see the dealers room you will want cash badly! (More info on the dealers room in part 4 or 5)

Also depending on the con you will want a room. Staying in the room at a hotel con is very convenient. Hotel cons usually run 24hrs so if you want you could go downstairs in your pajamas into a video room and no one would care. (Unless your PJ’s are too revealing.) Plus there’s a lot of late night events. After which you don’t want to commute back to your home.

Now you are young and have some cash but not enough for a room? They’re are other alternatives. Volunteering for cons can get you a room. You usually have to do 10 or more hours for some cons.

The other alternative….is worth a whole entry itself.

Next Part: Stuffing the Hotel Room
Last Part: Choosing the Con